Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-22
POLICE INVESTIGATION.
The Charges Against FRED smith
Not Sustained.

/
day afternoon, full Board present.
On motion A. c. Clarke, Secretary of
the Commission, was given a weeks
leave of absence.
Mayor Workman called attention to
the condition of First street, corner OF
Main, which was in crowded condi.
tion. He thought that an officer should
be stationed there all the time to keep
teams moving and the street clear. The
chief was instructed to place an officer
at that place.
Mayor Workman then read tim fol.
lowing charges against Fred c. Smith,
preferred by Chief Skinner:
On the 18th of this month | supended |
Officer Fred Smith for the following |
reasons:
First-Disclosing to the public the
secret workings of this office.
Second-For endeavoring to establish
that l was being reoompensed by the
gamblers of this city to allow them TO
proceed with their games without police
interference, which is contrary to Sec
ton 81 of our rules and regulations, and
respectfully ask that you confirm said
suspension and that his dismissal from
| the force may ensue.
(Signed) j. X. SKINNER,
Chief of Police.
The question as to what rules the de-
partment had been working under was
brought up, and by reference to the
minutes it was ascertained that the Chief
had been authorized on the 9th of Feb
ruary to procure rules for the guidance
of the officers, and the rules in use in
the San Francisco Department had been
sent for. After reading the rules re.
ferred to in the charges, Fred Smith did
not object TO it, but Mayor Workman
stated that the rules had never been
i adopted by the Commission. 1t was
decided to scratch out the words referr-
ing to the rules.
| Fred Smith being sworn. said that no
/ evidence had been put in against him
and he did not want to go on until ne
knew what he had to answer. He had
, been brought up on charges, but those
, had not been proved, and ne had nothing 9
J to answer. Fred Smith then presented
} his answer to the charges, which was as
{ follows:
.In answering the said charges pre-
/ ferred against me by the Chief of Police
1 of said city, of date June 2lst, 1887,
say that the information charged to have
q been given by me in said charges speei-
i fed was given while was testifying al
a witness before the Commissioners, duly
n sworn to tell the truth, and what | sale
i was the truth and on the demand O
/ said Commissioners, and was bound t
aud did tell the truth; and furthe
q state that | never did endeavor to SHOW
a that Chief Skinner was being recon-
pensed by the gamblers of this city t
a allow them to proceed with their games.
n Signed, FRED SMITH.
Chief Skinner said that the testimon,
4 given at the former meeting tended Il
4 make the public believe that be ha'
!, been standing in with the gamblers AM
ne had no evidence to offer but Mr.
Smiths statement on the former occasion
A Mayor Workman in response to ques
i tions by Fred Smith said that he ha'
7 asked Fred Smith to make the statemen
4 in the Commission.
h Mr.. Breed said that perhaps Chic
7 Skinner based his charges partially o.
d what had been said in certain news
: papers. 80.
n Fred Smith said he was willing
,f meet anything which might be brough
IL against him. Charges had been pre-
1 ferred against him and he wanted
"a shown that he had ever told anyone th
4. secret workings of the office or had eve
90 said that the Chief had taken S5 pieC
q from any ybody.
Chief Skinner replied that what b
70 said in the Commission tended to sho
or to lead people to believe that sue
al was the case.
n Mayor Workman said that he hs
as asked for the statement and had wante
os to hear it.
ar Fred Smith said that he wanted to
ne treated fairly and did not want to
M suspended for telling what the Commi
id sion had asked him to tell.
a No more evidence being introduce
y. the Commission went into executi,
session, in which the following was o
IN dered spread on the minutes:
a. Charges having been preferred again
"A Officer F. Smith by Chief Skinner I'll
i Commissioners met to investigate ii
"a same. Owing to the peculiar wordir
le of the charges the Commissioners d.
eide that the proof is not sufficient
of sustain the same.
M The resignation OF Fred c. Smith wi
h. received and accepted, the same to tai
effect the 2lst day of June.
ga W. I. Bowler received the appoin
ment made vacant by the resignation
w Fred G. Smith. Daniel Lynch was a
of pointed special, vice Bowler arpointt
IS. regular.
X. The salary of Fred c. Smith was o
> dered paid to June 2lst and tine Boal
a adjourned.